Truly Depressing Movies with Dana Stevens, Dan McCoy, and Drea Clark

Episode 191

6th January 2025

Is there hidden value in films that are unrelentingly bleak and hopeless?

Episode notes

There are sad movies that nonetheless offer some sort of hope and optimism. And then there are the ones that offer no hope at all, just bleakness and despair and the cinematic versions of major depressive disorder. Those are our focus on this episode as a trio of film critics and pundits offer their picks for the most depressing films and offer analysis on whether there is value in watching works that present worlds with zero hope. Films discussed include:
Grave of the Fireflies
Aftersun
Amour
Dancer in the Dark
Pan’s Labyrinth
Robocop (2014 remake)
Cries and Whispers
Synecdoche, New York
Cape Fear
Funny Games

Letterboxd: Truly Depressing Movies from Depresh Mode with John Moe

 

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In this episode...

Guests

  • Drea Clark
  • Dan McCoy
  • Dana Stevens

About the show

Join host John Moe (The Hilarious World of Depression) for honest, relatable, and, yes, sometimes funny conversations about mental health. Hear from comedians, musicians, authors, actors, and other top names in entertainment and the arts about living with depression, anxiety, and many other common disorders. Find out what they’ve done to address it, what worked, and what didn’t. Depresh Mode with John Moe also features useful insights on mental health issues with experts in the field. It’s honest talk from people who have been there and know their stuff. No shame, no stigma, and maybe a few laughs.

Like this podcast? Then you’ll love John’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression.

Logo by Clarissa Hernandez.

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